The forgotten £12 helicopter shuttle service that ran between Heathrow and

Catching a connecting flight in time is a stressful scenario for any passenger, let alone the prospect of needing to change airports. However, it wasn’t that long ago when you could easily commute between the capital’s two major airports in both speed and style.

A service called Airlink ran between 1978 and 1986, allowing passengers to be transported between Gatwick and Heathrow airports via helicopter. Journeys would take just 15 minutes and cost £12, being able to transport 28 passengers at a time.

The project was delivered by British Caledonian Airways, which was later bought by British Airways, and British Airways Helicopters. British Caledonian provided the ground crew for the operation alongside marketing, while British Airways supplied pilots.

Passenger aircraft, operated by British Airways Plc, at Heathrow Airport Terminal 4, in London, UK, on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said she wants construction work to begin on a third runway at Heathrow Airport before the next election is due in 2029, a day after giving the green light to a controversial project that's divided her governing Labour Party. Photographer: Jason Alden/Bloomberg via Getty Images — British Airways was involved in the running of the service -Credit:Bloomberg via Getty

But why did it stop? Well, the completion of the M25 was the ultimate downfall of Airlink. The final journey of the service took place in February 1986, just four months after the motorway was finished.

Passengers nowadays looking to commute from Gatwick to Heathrow would likely take a Thameslink train to Farringdon before using the Elizabeth line.

Other plans to link the airports have included Heathwick and HS4Air, two similar schemes to connect the destinations through a high-speed rail link.

The Bristow Group, who now own British International Helicopters (formerly British Airways Helicopters), told MyLondon that the Airlink service was cancelled long before the company took it over in 2002.

They added that there are not currently any plans to develop a similar service. British Airways was approached for comment, but had not responded at the time of publication.

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